Page 54 of Deeper

“Since when are you on board with the idea of Callen at all? Last week, you were warning me away, and now, you think adding a layer is a smart idea? What gives?”

“Callen was pretty great yesterday. The way he handled that guy who came after me and the way he is with you. I see something different in him when you two are together.”

“He was quick on his feet, Tatum; that’s it. He defends your honor, and your creepy vibe about him is gone? Just vanished?”

“It wasn’t a creepy vibe. It was a weird vibe. There’s a distinction. And not vanished, but, yeah, I think he deserves some credit.”

I sit up and click my tongue at her in a patronizing way. “Don’t let your guard down so easily, my friend.”

“You are so confusing. Do you want me to like him or not?” She dramatically throws her hand into the air, careful not to spill her coffee.

“That’s your decision to make. I’m just saying that a first impression is usually right about a person.”

“And what was your first impression of him?” she questions me.

“That he was dangerous but would be a lot of fun.”

She huffs out a frustrated breath. I don’t blame her. I’m being confusing.

“You got a dangerous vibe from him, and you’re just now telling me?”

“A girl needs to flirt with danger every now and again. I don’t think he’s dangerous to you or me, but he definitely has an edge.”

“I’m so lost. Do I trust him or commit you?”

I playfully hold out my wrists for Tatum to cuff. “You’re probably on to something.”

A knock at the door interrupts our conversation, and Tatum shakes her head at me and rises from the bed to grab our breakfast. I stay in the frustratingly clean bed. My phone buzzes with a text tone, and I try to act cool, but I’m not sure that I manage when I dive for the phone. It isn’t him. It’s my boss from The Kinky. I’m disappointed, but I open the text to see what she has to say anyway. Tatum returns with a cartful of food, and I smile at her.

“I just got a text. My latest article is the most viewed piece The Kinky has ever published.” That news brightens my mood a bit. I knew the writing was good.

“Rylan, that’s great! I want to read it sometime.”

I take a sip of my coffee while Tatum sets up our breakfast spread on the bed. I reach for the hot sauce, and my phone chimes on the nightstand once again.

Callen: Had to take care of some things early this morning. Order breakfast on me.

Tatum looks over my shoulder and shoots me a knowing smirk when she sees the text is from Callen. “It’s no fun now that he gave us permission. But at least the mystery of his disappearance is solved.”

Is it? Sounds like a blow-off to me.

“Let’s talk about something else,” I say, effectively closing the conversation. I dig my fork into my scrambled eggs, hungry but also looking for a distraction.

“Okay, but let me just say this. I think Callen is good for you, but I’m positive he’s hiding something. When you figure out what that something is, just be careful.”

“Tatum, I’m not a naive girl. I’m not oblivious to the possibility that he has some skeletons in his closet. But I don’t care what he has hidden away. Our arrangement isn’t that deep.”

“I saw your face when you realized Callen wasn’t here this morning. Do you really still expect me to believe that?”

I don’t respond. I can’t respond. I can’t because she has to believe that. If she doesn’t believe it, then I might have to admit the truth to myself.

It isn’t true that I’m in over my head.

That I’m in deep with a man I should only wade in the shallow end with.

Not true at all.

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